Method of applying backing fabrics to linings



UNITED STATES -P ATENT OYiFF I-CE .ALBERT B. ,MAULSBY, OF EVERETT, WASHINGTON METHOD OF APPLYING BACKING FABRICS 1T0 -.LINI1IGS Application flled October 21, 1930. SerialNo. 490,318.

This invention relatesto a method of and .means for applying backing fabrics to silk linings, andnithas reference particularlyto eanoveltmethod of attaching backing fabrics, .such asfleeeed cotton, to silk linings of'that i-character used in the interior decoration of caskets-and the like.

Explanatory to-the present invention, it will herebe s tatedthat caskets, cofiins, and the like, are,-:as a general rule, lined and decorated with silk, which: is crushed, crinkled or-formed in pufi's of various shapes or characteristic designs, and these designs areheld in shape by sewing the silk which forms them to a backing piece. This backing serves additionally as a supporting means for attaching the decorative lining to the walls of the casket. 'It isa very painstaking, tedious and expensiveeoperation:to .sew' the backing fabrics' tothe crushed silk lining. In fact, this work is generally done by hand and is one of the -most expensive items in the manu- Tfacture of ca'skets,,since it isrequired that =each:fold,sor puff of the crushed silk be atatached by afine thread or stitch so applied gnotshow through the thin-silk or cause stiff- .ness to'thefabric. There was the difliculty of spreading the glue-and, if it was applied :toathe' hacking in sufiicient quantity to hold .the. silk, it would penetrate through and spot ,40 st-her-surfaC-e. It is essential when an adhesive is used,'that it be so distributed and so thinly applied that it-willnot be absorbed by the silk but 'willdry without. penetration, and itis also. essential that it-shall not cause stiffmass or 'vean im ression of stiffness to .45 a g y P ithe'finished article.

In view of the many 'diificulties that here- ;to'fore have been experienced in the attempts .made to attach backing pieces 'to silk by gpse ofsglue, or other adhesive, and in view of the expensiveness of ithe usual-sewing process, it has been theprincipal object of this inventiontosprovidea successfully, inexpensive, and very desirable. method whereby an adhesive may be applied in--such fine quantities and-so evenly spread that it will notbe absorbed bythe silk, or show through its surface when the'backin'g is applied thereto, and which will-servemore efiectivelyto hold the liningithan is possibleiby-sew'ing.

Other objects of the invention resiide in'the various order of steps fol-lowed out in practising the process. 7

The practising of the presentmethoclcontemplates the use of certain mechanism, the preferred forms of which ha've been-illustreated in I the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a perspective view, showing a preferred form of equipment used in carryini out the process.

i-g. 2 is a cross sectionalview ofthe parts.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail, illustrating the attachment of thebacking to the silk piece.

lVhile the present process relates especially to the applying of backingfabric to'silk linings of caskets, it is to be understood that it is not to. be limi-ted thereto, but is just. as applicable to other uses wheresilk, orthe like, is attached'to backing. The process, briefly stated, consists of tirstapplying a thin film of gum to a glass plate, or other foundation, then pressing the fleeced or'nap side of a backing fabric against the gumme'd surface, thence removing'the backing and applying thenap side to the crushed silk-so that the gum which'adh eres'to thenap will cause the backing to adhere-tothesilk.

In carrying out the present process, I employ a gum, or adhesive,'that is especially prepared to adhere to silks andthin-vfabrics without striking through, yet i to have sufficient strength for .all,purposes foravhich it is used in the casket making industry. The gum, which I employ is used to best advantage with a backing material having a nap such as that of fieeced cotton, sometimes called domet, and itis best especially .for the casket indust ygto use along fleeced cot- IZI ton so that the fleece will serve as connecting threads between the silk and backing piece, as will presently be explained.

The particular design or form in which the silk is crushed, and the type of crushing machine used for forming it into the various designs is immaterial to the present invention. Any standard crushing machine on the market today will do. However, a machine of the type illustrated in United States Patent Nos. 1,733,353, and 1,724,493, issued on October 29, 1929, and August 13, 1929, respectively, may be employed for crushing the silk into various designs. These machines, as will be observed from their descriptions, operate to form a silk lining piece into putl's of various characteristic designs. The backing fabric is then attached to this, then the work is removed from the machine for application to the casket wall.

To carry out the process to the best advantage, I provide along side of this crushing machine, which is designated in its entirety by reference numeral 1, a glass plate, or other foundation, of sufficient size to take care of a backing piece for any lining that may be formed in the machine. The glass plate 2 is supported vertically between uprights 3 and 4 and upper and lower cross pieces 5 and 6. This installation is close to the machine 1 for convenience, and of such height that all parts of the glass can be easily or conveniently reached. Across the bottom of the frame is a shelf 7 on which the gum, or adhesive containers 8 may be placed for ready access thereto. It is desirable that the frame be so located that the workmen may pass clear around it. Across the top bar 5 and along the opposite side bars of the frame, at the side opposite the machine, are brads 9, or other supports on which a backing fabric 10 may be suspended and stretched across the back side of the lass late; it being supported in this way in or er that the operator may see exactly theplace and size of the area of glass to which the um is to be applied, and, if any particular esign is to be followed, this may first be marked in pencil on the fabric piece and when it is suspended back of the glass, the marks may be seen through the glass and followed in applyin the gum. After the silk h s been crushe in the desired design, the gu is applied to the glass plate, either by mea s of an air gun or spray, or by use of the u ual hand brush. When the hand brush is u ed, the gum is placed on the glass by dipping the brush into the container of gum and then spotting the glass with the gum at close intervals, then by spreading it lengthwise of the plate, then up and down, and then again lengthwise to insure an even spreading and thickess. This should be evenly and very thinly applied.

pull on the brush will enable one to tell when it is of proper tackiness.

Immediately after the adhesive has been spread over the glass, and when it has reached the proper tackiness, the fleeced fabric piece is removed from the back side of the glass plate and is applied to the adhesive side so that the fleece thereof engages with the gum. It is then smoothed out with a paper hangers brush, or with the hands, and then, without delay, the backing is pulled off the glass and laid upon the crushed silk so that the fleece engages the silk. There should be a slight pulling necessary to remove the fabric from the glass. If there is no pulling, this will indicate that there is too much gum applied, and in such event, it is best to wait a few minutes longer to permit the gum to become tacky. After the fabric has been placed upon the silk, it is then smoothed down with a soft brush or whiskbrooin, after a few moments setting, the work is finished.

In this process of transferring the gum from the glass plate to the fabric, there is the advantage that the gum may be evenly spread to a very exact thickness which cannot be done if the gum is applied directly to the fabric. Also, the gum may be spread so thin on the glass that there is not enough to penetrate, either the backing or silk, and therefore, it does not spot, or show through the silk of the thinnest quality.

A feature of this process which makes it a success, is that the individual threads of fleece are pulled out on end and each carries a very minute quantity of gum at its end which acts as a connecting body between that particular thread and the silk piece. This has been illustrated in Figure 3, wherein l5 designates thei fleece and 16 the particles of gum at their en s.

Another feature residesin the fact that the gum or adhesive is so sparingly used that it does not stiffen the backing or silk. All gum is held away from the warp or weave of the fabric and the nap, being drawn out on end forms a very noticeable cushioning medium between the silk and fabric which, in fact lends softness to the finished product.

The advantages of .the above transfer method of applying the gum are that the gum I claim as new therein and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of attaching backing fabric to crinkled lining materials, consisting of applying an adhesive to a superficiary, then spreading the backing fabric upon the superficiary while the adhesive is tacky, then removing the backing from the superficiary and While it is drawn smooth applying the side thereof, made tackv by transfer of adhesive from the superficiary, to the lining material.

2. The method of attaching backing fabric to crinkled linings, consisting of thinly spreading an adhesive over a smooth surface, then spreading the backing fabric upon said surface while the adhesive is tacky, then pulling it away from said surface to effect the transfer of adhesive to the backing, then while it is drawn smooth spreading the tacky side of the backing upon the lining and brushing them together to effect their attachment by reason of the adhesive transferred to the backing.

3. The method of attaching fleeced fabric to linings, consisting of thinly spreading an adhesive upon a smooth surface, then spreading the backing fabric upon said surface with its fleeced side against the tacky adhesive, then pulling it from said surface to effect the transfer of the adhesive to the fleece, then applying the backing upon the lining to cause the fleeced side thereof to adhere to the lining by reason of the adhesive transferred thereto.

4. The method of attaching fleeced fabric to crushed silk linings consisting of thinly applying an adhesive material to a glass plate, applying the fleeced side of the backing fabric to the glass plate while the adhesive is tacky, then pulling it from the plate, and spreading it upon the lining and brushing them together whereby they are caused to adhere b reason of the adhesive transferred to the eece.

5. The method of attaching fleeced fabric to silk linings consisting of thinly s reading an adhesive upon a glass plate, app ying the fleeced side of the backing to the plate, then pullin it 011' to draw the fleece out on end and effecting the transfer of adhesive to the fleece ends, then spreading the backing upon the lining to cause it to adhere thereto by reason of the transferred adhesive at the fleece ends.

6. The method of attaching fleeced fabric to silk linings, consisting of first preparing the lining, then marking the outline of the lining on the backing, then suspending the backing against one side of a glass plate so that the marked outline may be seen through said glass plate, then thinly spreading an adhesive upon the other side of the glass plate within the area marked on the backing, then applying the backing piece to said plate with its fleeced side in contact with the adhesive 

